WEST SACRAMENTO — River Cats outfielder Michael Taylor hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, Shane Peterson smashed a solo home run in the seventh and Sacramento beat Colorado Springs, 5-2, on Wednesday night at Raley Field.

Despite the Sky Sox getting a run in the top of the first, Jemile Weeks led off the bottom half with a single to right-center and scored before Taylor’s dinger put the Cats up 3-1.

Colorado Springs cut the lead in half with a tally in the second inning before Daric Barton worked a bases-loaded walk in the bottom half to make it 4-2. Peterson eventually sealed the deal with his HR in the seventh.

Sacramento starter Sonny Gray (9-5, 2.85 ERA) returned to the mound after making two appearances with Oakland, earning the win against Sky Sox right-hander Chris Volstad. Gray retired the last 11 batters he faced, allowed two runs on four hits in five innings of work, and is currently tied with Andrew Werner for second on the squad in wins behind Bruce Billings (10).

Taylor’s homer run was his team-leading 15th of the season, while Peterson’s was his seventh. The River Cats had 11 hits in all, though Hiro Nakajima ended his team-high 14-game hitting streak. In seven games since the all-star break, the Cats have scored 66 runs.

Colorado Springs outfielder Tim Wheeler, a Sacramento State alum, went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

The two teams will conclude their four-game series on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. when Sacramento sends Billings (10-4, 4.52 ERA) to the hill against fellow right-hander Collin McHugh (4-2, 2.94 ERA).

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